The New York Knicks have a long road to the 2019 NBA Draft, with intriguing prospects already making a name for themselves.
The New York Knicks have selected in the draft lottery since 2015, with Kristaps Porzingis, Frank Ntilikina and Kevin Knox to show for it. At 3-8 in 2018-19, they currently sit inside the top-14 picture.
Lottery position may not last for the Knicks, but that doesn’t mean it deemphasizes the upcoming prospects from the 2019 class. According to Adam Zagoria of The New York Times and SNY, team executives, Steve Mills and Scott Perry, were at the Champions Classic.
This two-game event featured Kansas vs. Michigan State and Duke vs. Kentucky. Both games were loaded with potential lottery picks in June’s draft.
Not only that, but other prospects played in college basketball’s opening night. It created intriguing looks at the NBA’s future, so how did these perceived top-10 picks perform? Let’s look in the first pre-draft rankings:
10. Charles Bassey, Western Kentucky
Position: Center
Height: 6-foot-11
Weight: 245 pounds
Opening night: 11 points, 12 rebounds, 2 steals, 2 blocks, 5-for-9 shooting
Not the Wildcats or Louisville, but the other Kentucky school for New York Knicks fans to follow in the college basketball season. Western Kentucky has Charles Bassey, a projected lottery pick that made his season debut Tuesday night, and had a strong impression.
11 points and 12 rebounds brought Bassey an opening night double-double, as he patrolled the paint for the Hilltoppers and lived up to the rim-protecting expectations at 2 blocks.
Bassey could establish himself as one of the nation’s best centers soon, with more games like this in his arsenal. The physical tools are there and, if he flashes anything from the perimeter, it has the chance to solidify him as a top-10 pick in June.
9. Keldon Johnson, Kentucky
Position: Guard/Forward
Height: 6-foot-6
Weight: 211 pounds
Opening night: 23 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 1 block, 8-for-16 shooting
Kentucky had a hopeless night against Duke, but they still received a strong showing from Keldon Johnson, one of their prized recruits from their 2018 class. He broke out for 23 points on 50 percent shooting in the Wildcats’ blowout loss.
Johnson flashed his scoring ability in multiple aspects, whether driving to the hoop or pulling up for a shot. Even against the Blue Devils’ trio, he found enough space to create a shot and fared well enough on defense.
Johnson is a projected lottery pick in the 2019 NBA Draft. The Knicks may no longer have a need at shooting guard with Allonzo Trier‘s emergence, but this is an intriguing scorer nonetheless.